Game



V Feb. I1, 1936.

I J. F. SMITH GAME Filed Oct. 8, 1934 v f fs'mim I 8A; 24, )QZK ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 11 1936 iJNlTED STATES PATENT OFFICE Application October 8,

4 Claims.

The invention relates to games-and particularly to a base ball game which may be played indoors or out of @doors.

The object of the invention is to provide a simply constructed game device wherein skill in tossing a ball and in catching it are involved in its operation together with the element of a chance play.

Another object is to provide a game device having means whereby when a ball enters the device it may be ejected at any one of a plurality of points.

Other objects and advantages will be set forth hereinafter.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which Figure l is a plan View of the game device.

Fig. 2 is a side view of the same.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the device with the cover removed.

Fig. 4 is a cross section on line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Referring to the illustrative embodiment of the invention, l is a receptacle formed of suitable material and 2 is a cover preferably telescoped on the receptacle. The side walls of the receptacle and the cover at one corner are cut away to form an opening 3 into which a hopper or funnel 4 may be inserted or otherwise connected. A hanger 5 is secured to the back of the receptacle at said corner by which the device may be suspended on a wall or other object. For convenience of description the hopper is considered to be at the upper corner of the receptacle. The front side of the device in outline represents a baseball diamond. An opening 5 in the cover 2 represents the pitchers station, and the openings l, 8, Q at the corners of the cover represent first, second and third bases respectively. Additional openings may be formed in the cover if desired.

A baflie I9 is suitably mounted on the bottom I l of the receptacle below the discharge end of the hopper, and below the baiile a U-shaped wall I2 is mounted on the bottom 5 6 adjacent to the lower and the two opposite side edges of the opening 5. This wall forms an upwardly opening pocket behind said opening into which a ball may enter and remain therein. Two partitions or walls I3 are mounted on the bottom l l upon opposite sides of and adjacent to the opening 8 and forming a passageway 54 and they are flared to pass the wall it and form a passageway E5 on each side of the pocket which merge into the passageway Id. In like manner passageways l6, ll lead to the openings 1, 9 respectively, said passageways be- 1934, Serial No. 747,282

ing formed by the walls l8, l9 and the adjacent side walls of the receptacle I. The upper ends of the walls [8, 19 may be spaced from the baffle ii) or located with respect thereto as may be desired and in like manner the upper ends of the walls 13 are spaced from the baffle I0 or the Walls l8, 19 as desired. The intent is that the entrance to any passageway shall be more or less interrupted by the baffle and the partitions or walls of the other passageways so that a descending ball may be deflected by one or more walls into some one of the passageways or the pocket.

Behind each opening 1, 8, 9 there is a flat spring 28 that is secured to the bottom of the passageway leading to said opening. The free end of the spring normally projects through the opening but it is not essential that it shall do so. It should be accessible through the opening for engaging the free extremity under a projection 2| formed on an upstanding arm 22 also secured to the bottom of the passageway. In the drawing the arm 22 is a spring but any means for releasably holding the spring 20 in tension when the device is in use will suffice.

In playing the game a suitable ball is used. The players object is to toss the ball into the hopper. It will descend into the pocket at the opening 6 or into any one of the passageways. If it descends into a passageway abuts the arm 22 therein and causes the latter to move away from and release the engaged spring 20. The spring then forces the ball outwardly through the opening and into the air where a player may catch it if he can. The strength or tension of the spring will govern the distance the ball is thrown or batted by it. If the ball descends into the pocket it may remain there until removed. After each play the operated spring is reset.

A set of rules may be formulated to govern the play. For example, a ball descending into the pocket could be called a strike, with three such strikes constituting an out. A ball ejected from any opening and caught by an opponent would constitute an out, if missed it could be termed a hit. Since no player can determine where the ball will travel in its descent in the receptacle he must be alert at all times as in the game of baseball. The game consequently may be made interesting and useful.

What I claim is: I

l. A game comprising a receptacle having a plurality of openings in its front side, means in the receptacle to form passageways leading to it eventually said openings respectively, a feed opening in the receptacle and common to all the passageways, baflling means between the feed opening and the entrances to the passageways and resilient ejectors mounted in some of the passageways rearwardly of the said openings for batting articles .that travel by chance in the passageways from the receptacle.

2. A game comprising a closed receptacle having a plurality of openings in its front side, means in the receptacle to form passageways leading to said openings respectively, a feed opening in the receptacle common to all the passageways and adapted to admit a ball, means between the feed opening and the entrances to baflie and deflect the ball in its descent and resilient means in some of the passageways and adjacent the openings and adapted to bat the ball through the openings to the exterior.

3. A game comprising a receptacle having an opening adapted to admit a ball to the interior thereof, and having a plurality of openings in its front side, passageways in the receptacle leading to the openings respectively, means between the ball admission opening and the entrances to the passageways for baffling and deflecting the ball, springs mounted in some of the passageways behind said openings, each spring being adapted to eject the ball through the opening adjacent thereto and means to hold each spring in tension, said means being released by contact of the ball therewith as said ball travels in the passageway.

4. A game comprising a closed receptacle having a plurality of openings in one side, spring ejectors adjacent some of the openings, a feed opening in the receptacle to admit the object to be ejected, means in the receptacle to guide the object whereby the object is conducted to any one of the openings by chance toward the ejectors respectively and means between the feed opening and the guides to baflle and deflect the object whereby the object is conducted to any one of the openings by chance.

JOSEPH F. SMITH. 

